Questions and Replies

Reply:

The performance of remunerative work by employees of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is regulated by National Instruction 4 of 2012, which prohibits the performance of any remunerative work in the taxi industry.

Paragraph 3 of National Instruction 4 of 2012, Performance of Remunerative Work, lists the prohibitions on the granting of approval to an employee, to perform certain types of remunerative work or to perform certain a4iv•rties for gain. The tax‹ industry is listed in paragraph 3(a), which reads: Approval may not be granted to an employee to perform any remunerative work •f such work or activity is in any manner connected to the taxi industry. This includes, but is not limled to, the operation of a taxi service by the employee, himsel or herseP or by employing another person, or the performance of remunerative work for a taxi association, group of taxi owners or operator or for a single taxi owner or operator.

Any information, relating to the involvement of SAPS membem in the taxi industry. is followed up immediately by the Provincial Investigation Team.

de following measures are in place, with ægafd to the management of SAPs fileams:

O III SAPS fireams are accounted for, on a regular basis, by means of physical inspections.

o All SAPS fifBarITIS aæ dot paen marked and tested, in tems of the lntegrated BalliStiCS Identification System (IBIS) and record is kept for comparison with exhibits, recovered at crime scènes.

In order tg corruption, the following measures have been implemented:

• All the SAPS personnel, who are attached to the Taxi Violence Investigation Unit, are vetted and lifestyle audits are conducted on a regular basis.
• Corruption cases are investigated by the Anti-Corruption Unit.
• Allegations of corruption are investigated departmentally, independently from the criminal case.
• Employees face dismissal if found guilty on corruption charges.
• Employees are sensitised about the consequence of committing serious misconduct.

» Roll out of the National Instruction on ethics and integrity management.

• Trainees are subjected to integrity management to eliminate the potential risk of corruption.

The following SAPS members were convicted and dismissed for their involvement in taxi violence:

Station and Cæe Number	Charge	Name of SAPS Member	SAPS Flrearm used	Outcome
Gemiston CAS 289/11/2015	Murder x 2 and attempted murder	Thulani Wiseman Madidie	No	Guilty- 2 x life imprisonment
Pretoria Central CAS 1541/09/2013	Murder	Lungisani Arnold Mgaga	Yes	Guilty- life imprisonment
Roodepoort CAS 579/10/2018	Murder	Sibusiso Shongwe	No	Guilty- life imprisonment

 

Reply:

The Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) implemented a multimedia communication campaign in respect of COVID-19 aimed at informing citizens and creating awareness about the Pandemic. Various Media Platforms were utilized in order to ensure that all segments of the population are reached. To date the ad spend summary is as per the below table:

GCIS COVID 19 AD SPEND SUMMARY (Media Buying)
PUBLICATION	APPROVED ORDERS (COMMITTED AMOUNT)	INVOICES RECEIVED	COMMITMENTS BALANCE
TV	R22 818 029,00	R18 399 325,50	R4 418 703,50
Radio	R16 893 447,51	R15 090 006,14	R1 803 441,37
Production/Creative Agencies	R 6 000 000,00	R5 915 799,38	R84 200,62
Outdoor	R13 303 730.21	R7 905 850,75	R4 400 879,46
TOTAL	R59 015 206.72	R47 310 981,77	R10 707 224,95

(b) proportion of black-owned advertisement agencies and/or companies were used

• Molibiz - 100% Black owned and 75% black woman owned.
• Cut-2-Black – B-BBEE Status level 1 of contributor.

(c) proportion of the budget that went to black-owned media for

(i) radio

1. Of the R16 893 447.51 spent on Radio, R2 746 592.37 which translates to 17.5% of the total radio budget was spent on black owned media owners/stations.
2. Of the total budget R10 996 477,80 was spent on SABC and on 60 community stations translating to 65% of the total radio budget.

Please see the below table for reference.

RADIO AD SPEND
SUPPLIER	ORDER AMOUNT	% SHARE	BEE STATUS
Mediamark (Igagasi FM, Kaya FM,	R1 268 185,38	7.5%	All 3 stations are 100% black owned
Motswako Media	R457 988,00	3%	100% black owned
MSG Group Sales	R620 572,61	4%	100% black owned
YFM	R399 846,38	3%
Total black owned media owners/stations	R2 746 592.37	17.5%
SABC Radio	R10 036 477,80	63%	Public Broadcaster
Community Radio (60 stations)	R960 000.00	5.6%
Total SABC & Community	R10 996 477,80	65%
Other commercial radio Media owners / stations	R3 150 577.34	17.5%
Total Radio Adspend	R 16 893 447.51

(ii) television broadcasters

Of the R22 818 029.00 spent on television broadcasters, R9 580 374.00 was spent on black media owners as per the below table which translates to 41% of the total television budget. Furthermore, R12 499 355.00 of the R22 818 029.00 was spent on free to air and public broadcasters which translates to 54% of the television budget. The distribution of the budget is as follows:

SUPPLIER	Total cost	BLACK OWNED
SABC TV	R 12 499 355,00	Public Broadcaster
ETV/ ENCA	R 8 453 374.00	Free to Air / Black owned
MVM Multimedia	R 828 000,00	Black owned (Soweto TV)
Zallywood	R 299 000,00	Black owned (Tshwane & Gau TV )

(iii) outdoor

Of the total R13 303 730.21 which was spent on Outdoor Media for this campaign, R10 413 674.17 was spent on 22 Black Media owners for the procurement of Billboards, Wall Murals and in taxi television. This translates to 78% of the total budget and the table below depicts the distribution of the budget amongst the approved suppliers:

BLACK OWNED OUTDOOR MEDIA OWNERS
Global Touch	R 997 000,00	Black owned
Huffing Post	R 733 643,65	Black female owned
Esona Communications	R 518 693,00	Black female owned
Luvuno Media	R 45 670,00	Black owned
Owakhe Media	R 422 050,00	Black owned
Platinum Outdoor Media	R 195 000,00	Black owned
Kemvest	R 217 494,90	Black owned
Bahn Media	R 128 620,00	Black owned
Rivoni Advertising	R 572 284,00	Black owned
Kwame Media	R 304 750,00	Black owned
The Guyz Media	R 282 900,00	Black owned
BLK Mercury	R 106 925,00	Black owned
Outsmart Outdoor Media	R 619 655,12	Black female owned
Hluma Media	R 213 854,00	Black owned
Sumep Media	R 1 132 119,00	Black owned
Kena Media	R 2 052 074,95	Black owned
Placement Media	R 314 709.00	Black owned
Tswalanang	R 308 200.00	Black owned
Keys Communications	R 525 992.17	Black owned
Indaba Billboards	R 140 061.00	Black owned
Tema Media	R 245 732.00	Black female owned
Sondlo & Knopp	R 336 246,89	Black owned
Total AD Spent on Black Outdoor Billboard Owners R10 413 674.17

 

(d) Total amount was spent in production of video adverts for both television and social media?

A total amount of R3 562 544,46 was spent on the production of video adverts for TV and Social Media.

Thank You.

Reply:

Yes, the Management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is aware of the recent, 2021 survey, which was carried out by a statistics website, Numeo.com. The cities identified in the survey, according to the rankings, are as follows:

Pretoria	Number 3
eThekwini (Durban)	Number 4
Johannesburg	Number 5
Pietermaritzburg	Number 7
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)	Number 14
Cape Town	Number 16

It should be noted that the Crime Index is based on surveys from visitors to the website. To generate a current index, data up to 36 months old is used and includes only cities for which there are at least a certain number of contributors.

The table below provides a perspective on the number of participants over a 36 month period:

Pretoria	280
eThekwini (Durban)	240
Johannesburg	676
Pietermaritzburg	81
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)	103
Cape Town	510

Although the content of the survey is noted, the number of participants is indeed marginal if measured against the total population of each of these

The SAPS initiated the Safer Cities Project in collaboration with Strategic stakeholders, such as municipalities and went beyond the above mentioned six cities to also include Emalahleni, Polokwane, Rustenburg, Mangaung and Kimberley.

In the above cities, with the exception of Pietermaritzburg, the initiation process has been concluded, led by the SAPS Management and in some instances by the Minister or Deputy Minister of Police, who engaged with provincial and local government to brief them on the project and agreed on joint mechanisms for the development and implementation of a Safer Cities Project.

The implementation strategy entails the development of project and implementation plans by the provinces, with their respective cities. The city of eThekwini (Durban) has gone beyond the initiation phase and has developed a project plan with an implementation plan.

One of the milestones achieved by the city of eThekwini (Durban) is the establishment of an integrated Fusion Centre, which was launched on 20 November 2020. The other cities are expected to finalise their project plans with implementation plans, in the 2021/2022 financial year. This strategy is being rolled out with the District Development Model, in respect of planning and budgeting for the project.

The objectives of the Safer Cities Project (strategy) are:
A country free of crime and violence.

People feeling safe, within the city or district precinct.

Increased economic growth of the city.

Integrated functional governance system.

Public confidence and trust in the governance of the city/district.

Reply to question 238 recommended/

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021-03-04

Reply to question 238 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 12/03/2021

Reply:

An extension of 14 days is requested, in order to ob6in more information on the statement that was allegedly made by the said political party leader.

Reply to question 106 recommended /not recommended


GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE

KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2101-03-04

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 12/03/2021

Reply:

Internal investigations are continuing as they get finalised, the recommendations and direction will be given which path to follow, including the consequence management, if needs be.

Reply to question 305 approved

GENERAL BH CELE, MP
MINISTEROF POLICE
Date: 12/03/2021

Reply:

The National School of Government reporting to the Minister of Department of Public Service and Administration

(a) Spent a total amount of R15,089,360.38 on consultants for the period between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020. It should be noted that whilst the details below are reflected as payments to consultants, they do not necessarily represent the outsourcing of services for which the NSG employs people to render. For example, internal audit services are outsourced hence they appear below, inclusive of fees paid to external members of the audit committee.

Further, it should be noted that the NSG operates a Training Management IT

system which requires specialists to manage linked to the term of the contract of the software solution. Also included are the services of a temporary nurse who was contracted to provide screening services for COVID-19. Finally, we also reflect fees paid to independent contractors who are an extension of training arm. Money paid to these independent training contractors are recovered through the training fees charged to learners.

i.e. 2019/20 – 01 January 2020 – 31 March 2020 = R 9 667 710,85

2020/21 – 01 April 2020 – 31 December 2020 = R 5 421 649,53

(b) Relevant details: IT Related – Outsourced services

(i) Name of Consultant	(ii) Work done	(iii) Amount paid	2019/20 January – March 2020	2020/21 April – December 2020
The Training Room online	Management of the Moodle eLearning platform	R1,467,226.18	R290,151.17	R1,177,075.01
Esoftware Solutions	Management of the Training Management System	R736,894.16	R383,523.86	R353,370.30
Bytes System Integration	Outsourced ICT services	R2,021,343.81	R500,656.89	R1,520,686.92

(b) Relevant details: Professional Services

(i) Name of Consultant	(ii) Work done	(iii) Amount paid	2019/20 January – March 2020	2020/21 April – December 2020
Lunika Incorporated	Internal auditing services	R587,867.36	R222,701.39	R365,165.97
Nkosi	Audit Committee Member	R39,861.00	R12,978.00	R26,883.00
Peense	Audit Committee Member	R81,576.00	R81,576.00	R0.00
Shikwane	Audit Committee Member	R54,721.00	R54,721.00	R0.00
Van Der Nest	Audit Committee Member	R12,978.00	R12,978.00	R0.00

(b) Relevant details: Research

(i) Name of Consultant	(ii) Work done	(iii) Amount paid	2019/20 January – March 2020	2020/21 April – December 2020
Blue Oceans Information Solution	Research and Development Consultants	R338,100.00	R0.00	R338,100.00
De Waal Research	Research and Development Consultants	R18,960.00	R0.00	R18,960.00
Kula Development and Business	Research and Development Consultants	R149,130.00	R0.00	R149,130.00
Lokisa Human Development Solution	Research and Development Consultants	R21,000.00	R0.00	R21,000.00

(b) Relevant details: Nurse – Covid-19 screening

(i) Name of Consultant	(ii) Work done	(iii) Amount paid	2019/20 January – March 2020	2020/21 April – December 2020
Revolution Human Capital	Professional nurse – covid-19 screening at the department	R117,142.19	R0.00	R117,142.19

(b) Relevant details: Training related (recovered from training fees)

(i) Name of Consultant	(ii) Work done	(iii) Amount paid	2019/20 January – March 2020	2020/21 April – December 2020
Various Experts as per attached spreadsheet (attached)	Training of National and Provincial departments and Local Government	R9,387,290.68	R8,107,934.54	R1,279,356.14

(b) Relevant details: Verification Agencies

(i) Name of Consultant	(ii) Work done	(iii) Amount paid	2019/20 January – March 2020	2020/21 April – December 2020
Honeycomb Bee Rating	Verification of B-BBEE status	R51,750.00	0.00	R51,750.00
SA Qualifications Authority	Verification of qualifications	R3,520.00	R490.00	R3,030.00

End

Reply:

(a)(i)(ii)(iii(iv)(b)(i)(ii)

A total of 104 out of 111 police stations in the Free State, fall within the rural safety category, this includes rural and the combination of urban/rural, in terms of the classification. A total of 100 out of 104 rural police stations have vehicles, which are allocated and dedicated to rural safety. All vehicles in the Visible Policing and Detective environments are regarded as operational. The details are reflected in the table below:

Reply:

An allocation of 312 trainees was eamarked to be placed at the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units. To date, a total of 288 of the trainees have been placed at various units and the remaining 24 posts are in the process of been fillad laterally. The FCS was allocated a further 70 posts in Phase 1 of the Post Promotion process, for the 2020/2021 financial year and these post are yet to be filled.

 

Reply:

(1) During the intervention it was discovered that the Stock Then information Centre was not in place. The following government departments and organisations are represented in the Stock Theft information Centre:
The department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Stock     Theft and Endangered Species Units.
Red Meat Organisations.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Live Stock Farmers, National Agricultural Farmers Union (NAFU).
Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU).

The purpose of the Stock Theft information Centre, is as follows:
The sharing of intelligence between communities and detectives
Providing feedback, with regard to stock theft cases.
Creating community awareness, with regard to relevant legislation, e.g. the Animal Identification Act, the Stock Theft Act and the Meat Safety Act, etc.
Joint visits to livestock and meat disposal points.
Discouraging the community not to mediate serious stock theft court cases.

(2) The SAPS 1s continuously monitoring the stock theft trends and where a similar trend is noticed, various approaches are put in place after analysing the facts. There are currently four task teams operating in identified stock theft hotspots in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, in various districts.

Reply to question 422 recommended

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021-03-04

Reply to question 422 approved

 

MIISTER OF POLICE
GEERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 12/03/2021

 

 

 

Reply:

(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) Not applicable Mr Malema is no longer protected by the South African Police Service (SAPS), Very Important Persons (VIP) Protection Services.

Reply to question 354

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021-03-04

Reply to question 354 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 12/03/2021

Reply:

(1) Was to see former president Zuma and have a wide range of various discussions.

2(a)(i) Did not fly to Nkandla so no cost incurred.

2(a)(ii) Did not calculate on this one but used the normal transport I use when doing my political movement work.

2(b) Same as I always use.

2(c) Used the police cars I always use not sure the status either own or hired by police.

2(d) No accommodation used.

2(e) No gifts.

2(§ I have no knowledge of such details, those are administrative.

Reply to question 495 approved

GENERAL BH CELE, MP
MINISTER OF POLICE
Date: 12/03/2021

Reply:

1.Ministers don't effect arrest, if warrant of arrest is issued, it will follow the normal cause of procedures.
2. No. As explained above, ministers don’t carry out any arrests

 

Reply to question approved

GENERAL BH CELE, MP
MINISTER OF POLICE
Date: 2021/03/12
 

Reply:

(1)(a)(b)(i)(ii) The academic qualifications and the practical experience of the Commander of the National Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and commanding officers of the respective forensic laboratories in the Republic, are reflected in the table below:

Occupation	Senior Member	Qualification	Experience
Component Head: FSL	Major General Ngokha	Diploma in Management B. Tech Management B. Com Honours Management Diploma in Applied Management BSc (Chemistry and Biochemistry)	DNA expert Facility Manager of the Laboratory Chemistry Manager Head of the FSL
Section Head: Ballistics	Brigadier van Niekerk	Diploma Datametrics: Unisa AFTE: Board	35 years’experience in Forensic Ballistics
Section Head: Chemistry	Brigadier J Allen	BSc (Chemistry andBiochemistry) BSc Hons (Biochemistry)	29 years’ experience at the FSL.

Find here: Table continuation

Reply:

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 learning programs at Higher Education Institutions, resulting in Medical Students completing their final year studies late in December 2020. There was also a recorded delay for serving medical interns who were transitioning to community service: medical officer posts from 1 January 2021. The delayed completion, impacted on the finalization of the professionals registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), which is amongst others, one of the requirement for commencement of duty in a health facility.

Despite all these challenges, Provincial Departments of Health made provision to ensure viable appointments of health professionals (i.e. medical interns and community service doctors) are captured and finalized as soon as all the required documents are receipt.

The National Department of Health hereby confirms that Provincial Departments of Health across all Provinces, despite the challenges outlined above, managed to capture and finalize appointments of medical interns and community service and salaries have been paid successfully in this professionals bank accounts during the periods 31 January 2021 to 15 February 2021.

The only remaining challenge was in the Northern Cape where one medical intern and one community service doctor, who commenced duty from 1 January 2021 have not yet received salary due to the fact that at the time of capturing the appointment on the PERSAL System, the Northern Cape Provincial Treasury deactivated the appointment functionality in the Province for all Departments due to over expenditures encountered.

 

The Acting Head of Health Department (HoD) engaged the Acting Head of Provincial Treasury on the matter. The Province have since been given back the appointment function on PERSAL temporarily. The appointments have now been captured on the System and emoluments are due to be paid by 15 March 2021 backdated to January 2021 to the affected doctors.

END.

Reply:

a) According to the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health, (a) the number of vacant funded posts as at 25 February 2021 is 544 posts. The breakdown is as follows:

Row Labels	Number of Posts
Administration Staff	34
Allied Professionals	79
Allied Support Staff	6
Clinical Professionals	119
Management Professionals	1
Nursing Professionals	238
Support Staff	67
Grand Total	544

The process of replacing vacated posts is a decentralised function and the Hospital Management ensures that vacated posts are filled continuously on a monthly basis with priority given to core functions (i.e. health professions categories).

(b) Some of the reasons that the Hospital has struggled with to fill the specified vacancies include but not limited to a recurring challenge of limited skills of Specialised Nurses Categories in the Country (limited resources available). The recruitment of Clinicians is also a challenge as some of the candidates prefer to work in other Academic and Tertiary Institutions like Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital lose out because of their geographic area. The Hospital is also affected by the budget reductions under Cost of Employer (COE) experienced in the public health sector and the filing of most or all the 544 posts will result in over-expenditure.

(c) To mitigate this challenge, management appoints experienced Professional Nurses in those speciality areas who are capable of dealing with work demands. Continuous support is given to these nurses through training programmes and supervision. The Hospital has further put in place mechanisms to minimise the impact of vacant posts on service delivery through task sharing, overtime and rotation of staff.

END.

Reply:

Government is constantly engaging experts and scientists to keep abreast of any new variants that are emerging and the efficacy of the various vaccines that are currently available on the global market. This includes getting clinical and scientific advisories from relevant Ministerial Advisory Committees. Furthermore, part of our risk management strategy includes ensuring that we actively engage with various vaccine manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that the population has access to a diversity of vaccines as part of the vaccination roll-out campaign.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has as its mandate, a responsibility to ensure that vaccines approved for use are efficacious. In this context SAHPRA requires that all vaccine manufacturers provide evidence of the efficacy of their vaccines against variants.  

END.

Reply:

1. The list of vaccination sites for the Sisonke phase 3b study is attached;

2. The vaccine has not been study in children hence we are not sure about the efficacy and safety of these vaccines in children;

3. We have good evidence from clinical trials  to support the efficacy of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine against the 501Y.V2 variant. In vitro studies suggest that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective as well against the 501Y.V2. We are awaiting the data relating to the effectiveness of the Sinopharm, Sinovac and Sputnik V vaccines against the 501Y.V2. In terms of Astra Zeneca and Novovax the studies to date suggest these vaccines have diminished effectiveness and the Ministerial Advisory Committee does not support the use of these vaccines at this stage.

END.

Reply:

a) Vaccines are approved for use after clinical trials are successful and the data is assessed by regulators. Regulators must consider claims of the efficacy of the vaccine as part of the market authorization. SAHPRA will perform this function in South Africa hence all vaccines we procure will be efficacious.

b) The regulator and research will conduct regular assessment of the vaccine against new and emerging variants. The timelines for the effectiveness of the vaccine is dependent on various factors including the type of variants that emerge and the rate of these mutations.

END.

Reply:

a) The officials responsible for the misallocation is the Director Finance, Senior State Accountant and the Accounting Clerk. The misallocation does not relate to allocation of funds. It relate to a payment of an invoice that was erroneously paid from programme 4 instead of programme 5.

b) The 3 officials take responsibility for the honest mistake as this is the first time such a mistake occurred in the past 9 financial years and the Director Finance already had a discussion with the other 2 officials regarding the seriousness of misallocation of amounts and indicated that the 3 of them must take the responsibility for the mistake and going forward all payments must be thoroughly checked to ensure that similar cases will not recur.

_________________________

Approved by Minister

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Date _____________________

Reply:

1. The UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) DDT Expert Group in its eighth meeting reaffirmed the continued need for DDT for IRS (Indoor Residual Spraying)-based malaria vector control in specific settings. South Africa is one of these settings in which DDT is indicated for malaria control owing to high level pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector mosquito species Anopheles funestus. Two factors support the continued need for DDT. Firstly, an anticipated resurgence in malaria cases and deaths, as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and cyclone Eloise, necessitates the use of DDT as a highly effective insecticide with proven efficacy over a very long period. Secondly, in South Africa DDT plays a role in resistance management via a mosaic strategy that also utilizes pyrethroid insecticides. New vector control products and tools are on the horizon and are expected to provide new modes of action for IRS as supplementary methods, but continued financing will be essential to support the epidemiological trials necessary to inform international and local policy.

2. In 2011, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a review on the human health effects of DDT and its metabolites in relation to DDT use for malaria control. The conclusions were that relevant exposure scenarios for the general population in countries using IRS are not of concern, because DDT and DDE (Dichloro-Diphenyldichloro-Ethylene) serum levels in sprayed households were generally below potential levels of harm. Recent findings showed weak associations between exposure to DDT and its breakdown product DDE and symptoms and diagnoses of allergies from an IRS area in Vhembe, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Another recent study reported that prenatal exposure to DDT, in Limpopo, a communitybased education programme was developed to reduce insecticide exposure from IRS. Community presentation through drama and song were implemented in 16 IRS pilot villages. The results showed an increase in the attendees’ knowledge of precautions to take before and after spraying, suggesting that the approach has promise to limit exposure to IRS insecticides.

It is especially important to note however that all insecticides have potentially harmful effects on human health, but their use is nevertheless necessary for the control of malaria, a potentially fatal disease. It should also be noted that malaria vector control via the use of insecticides, especially DDT, has reduced malaria incidence in South Africa by at least 95%, enabling South Africa to adopt an elimination strategy that will ultimately require fewer amounts of insecticide as malaria control becomes more targeted.

END.

Reply:

1. National Treasury does not need to approve donations to public entities. Treasury Regulation 21.2.1 permits accounting officers to accept gifts, donations and sponsorships.

2. National Treasury is not able to quantify the irregular expenditure at this point.  Irregular expenditure is incurred when the resulting transaction is recognized in the financial records of a department, constitutional institution or public entity in accordance with the relevant Accounting Framework. For a department or a government component applying the Modified Cash Standards (MCS) to incur irregular expenditure, the non-compliance must be linked to a financial transaction. Although a transaction may trigger irregular expenditure, a department or government component will only record irregular expenditure when a payment pertaining to the non-compliance is actually made (i.e. when the expenditure is recognized in accordance with the Modified Cash Standards). For a government component, a constitutional institution, a trading entity or a public entity listed in Schedules 2 or 3 to the PFMA applying Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to incur irregular expenditure, the non-compliance must be linked to a financial transaction. Although a transaction may trigger irregular expenditure, a constitutional institution, government component, trading entity or public entity will only record irregular expenditure when a transaction is recognised as expenditure in the Statement of Financial Performance in accordance with GRAP or IFRS, whichever is applicable. The National Treasury only receives applications for condonation of irregular expenditure once it is declared as such and this is usually for previous financial years as a result of audit findings.

3. The National Treasury supports the work of the Fusion Centre with the review of bid processes followed. The reviews are conducted on cases referred and based on an assessment of specific procurement processes followed by a given institution in line with the principles of the definition of emergency procurement and its adherence with various COVID Emergency Instruction Notes. Findings are then submitted to the Fusion Centre for further handling. Further detail on the outcome of cases investigated can be provided by the Fusion Centre.

The Centre is compromised of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), State Security Agency, SA Revenue Service, the Hawks and the Financial Intelligence Centre, and acts as the coordinating body of law-enforcement agencies tasked with looking into Covid-19 related graft.

Reply:

(1) It should be noted that HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support services in public health services were not shut down during the hard lock down for Covid-19 restrictions. Health care facilities remained opened as essential services during this time. However, due to restrictions of movement, the performance for HIV testing subsequently decreased as community testing stopped.

Facility staff were deployed and assigned to do Covid-19 activities, HIV activities were not fully covered.

HIV and other PHC services were negatively impacted by deployment of facility staff as they were assigned to Covid-19 activities. The effect was noted in the delivery of services, which negatively affected the clinical assessment, registration of new HIV patients, and they could not be initiated on ART.

The staff members who contracted Covid-19, were not replaced and facilities were closed for decontamination over a period of time as prescribed by guidelines for decontamination. These activities affected delivery of services, as facilities were closed. Some of the reasons given were that patients were locked down as taxis were not available (not working) and law enforcement officials were stopping clients from moving around without asked for reasons (therefore couldn’t come to health facilities).

Lack of public transport and patients’ fear of contracting Covid-19 when visiting the facilities led to patients not accessing HIV services. There was a decline in new patients initiated on ART and total number of patients remaining on ART (TROA) during Covid-19. The programme experienced high missed appointments and high lost to follow up (LTFU) of patients.

Proactively, before the hard lockdown, the HIV programme enrolled all stable patients on ART in the external pick up points for collection of treatment at facilities closer to their homes and work.

In some areas, where there was support of development partners, medication was delivered to client’s homes.

(2) There were notable disruptions:

1. There was a shortage of drugs supplies in some facilities due to an influx of clients from other facilities (could have been closed due to Covid-19 or patients went to nearest facility as there were restrictions on traveling or could have moved to other province and were locked down in there). These actions affected the ordering of ARVs and planning of facilities as they received more patients than planned.

2. There was a notable disruption to the antiretroviral therapy provision in the country that resulted from failure of suppliers to deliver on time and courier services shut down due to Covid-19 restrictions.

3. The locking of international borders led to low production, due to lack of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), this negatively affected delivery of ARVs to the country.

END.

Reply:

In 2020, a total of seven cases of human rabies was laboratory confirmed in South Africa, six of which originated in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province and one in Limpopo (LPP) Province. This compares to 10 laboratory-confirmed human cases in 2019.

In addition, three children were identified in 2020 who had dog bites/exposure and died of clinically compatible rabies disease. These cases could not be confirmed in the laboratory and were classified as probable cases in the provinces of KZN (n=1), LPP (n=1) and Eastern Cape (n=1).

To date, for 2021, 1 case of human rabies was reported from eThekwini, KZN.

The provinces that reported rabies cases during 2020 and 2021 have put in place prevention activities and plans. KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo have put the following measures in place:

Actions taken in KZN

• A circular informing all districts was released;
• There are On-going health education and awareness campaigns, which is being among the affected communities;
• There is ongoing training of Health Care Workers;
• Rabies meetings were held by eThekwini District with role players;
• A One health approach is in place, in collaboration with Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD);
• Alerts were sent out by DALRRD with real time surveillance maps and
• Animal rabies vaccination campaigns were completed in the affected areas.

Challenges identified by eThekwini District

• Patients presented late to health care facilities for medical help.
• Cultural beliefs resulted in delayed health seeking behavior by patients.
• Patients did not complete their vaccines according to the schedule given.
• There were delays in reporting on the notifiable medical conditions (NMC) system by health practitioners.

The DALRRD is responsible for controlling rabies in animals; most human rabies cases were as a result of dog bites. The DALRRD have also been experiencing challenges such as:

• too many stray dogs were roaming in the community;
• dog owners were not vaccinating their dogs on time;
• there was a need for further rabies education in the community and
• a high number of government vehicles were hijacked while rendering animal health services, including dog vaccinations.

Eastern Cape noted that despite the Covid-19 response having priority, the following were conducted:

• Routine surveillance of animal bites in humans were conducted (which was a proxy for suspected human rabies);
• Healthcare workers at the facility level were trained on case management;
• Treatment protocols were developed and distributed to health facilities;
• routine surveillance of rabies among animals by Veterinary Services are ongoing.
• Health promotion activities were conducted in high risk areas, especially when there were animal cases reported by Veterinary Services.

Rabies control in Limpopo are as follows:

• Health talks for the communities were conducted in collaboration with DALRRD.
• The DALRRD also vaccinated dogs; this is ongoing.
• Annual rabies awareness days were celebrated every year jointly with DALRRD.
• Politicians were engaged in promoting rabies prevention messages in the community.
• The province ensured that rabies post exposure prophylaxis was available in facilities.
• Refresher training for health workers were conducted and is ongoing.
• Health education on rabies were conducted for traditional healers.

END.

Reply:

As I had indicated previously the discussion held between Johnson&Johnson is subject to a non-disclosure agreement that government had to sign off on before discussions regarding access to them could be held. While we would certainly prefer to disclose as much information as possible this condition of non-disclosure is in place from all manufacturers. Nevertheless we can share some information with the Honourable Member.

(a) There were six formal meetings between Johnson&Johnson and the Department of Health between June 2020 and December 2020. In the period 1 January 2021 and 1 March 2021 there have also been six formal meetings. In addition, there has been significant exchange of email correspondence between officials and Johnson&Johnson.

(b) While there were various issues discussed in the meetings over the past 9 months the key issues are the following:

• • The characteristics of the vaccine-type of vaccine, storage, mechanism of action, dosing, administration requirements;
  • The anticipated date for completion of the phase 3 study;
  • The anticipated quantity of vaccine that can be delivered and the timelines for delivery;
  • The price of the vaccine;
  • The conditions in the advanced purchase agreement including liability, payment conditions, delivery dates, penalty clauses;
  • Access to the excess Johnson&Johnson trial doses following the pausing of the Astra Zeneca vaccine rollout;
  • Structure of the phase 3b study, logistics, reporting co-ordination, dose delivery dates.
  • The proposed contractual agreement from Johnson&Johnson has been reviewed by National Treasury and concurrence has been obtained. The agreement has been signed off for 11million doses with an option for an additional 20m doses based on availability of stock. The Johnson&Johnson vaccine is the most cost-effective vaccine for the following reasons:
  • it provides high level of protection against hospitalisation and death from clinical studies in South Africa;
  • It is effective against the 501Y.V2 variant;
  • Single dose vaccine;
  • It is stored at fridge temperature;
  • Price is lower compared to other vaccines

END.

Reply:

a)  On 29 January 2021 Johnson&Johnson released the results of their phase 3a clinical trial done in various countries including South Africa. The results of the trial indicate that the vaccine is 85% effective against preventing hospitalization and severe Covid-19 and 100% effective against death. The vaccine is also effective against the 501Y.V2 variant which is predominant in South Africa and was 57% effective in preventing moderate to severe symptoms.

b) The Johnson&Johnson vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States of America. We anticipate that Johnson and Johnson will also submit a similar application to SAHPRA for consideration.

END.

Reply:

According to the Acting Registrar of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Dr. Wouter Basson is still on the register of medical practitioners in terms of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) (“the Act”). The Acting Registrar further indicated that Dr. Basson is legally entitled to remain on the register of medical practitioners until he is removed from the register in terms of section 19 of the Act.

The HPCSA charged Dr. Wouter Basson with, and found him guilty of, unprofessional conduct on 18 December 2013. Dr. Basson was, inter alia, charged and found guilty of the following charges – Coordination of the production of drugs.

Having been found guilty of unprofessional conduct on 04 February 2015 and during the sentencing proceedings, Dr. Basson applied for the recusal of two of the members of the professional conduct committee arguing bias. The professional conduct committee which consisted of three members dismissed Dr. Basson’s application for recusal of two of its members. Dr. Basson thereafter applied to the High Court for the review and setting aside the dismissal of his application for the recusal of two members of the professional conduct committee.

The High Court dismissed Dr. Basson’s application for the review and setting aside the professional conduct committee’s refusal of his application for the recusal of the two members of the professional conduct committee.

Dr. Basson appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal against the High Court’s dismissal of his review application, and the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld his appeal on 17 January 2018 and directed that the matter be remitted back to the High Court for a decision on the review application.

On 27 March 2019, the High Court granted the application for the review and setting aside of the professional conduct committee’s refusal of the application for recusal of two of its members.

The HPCSA unsuccessfully applied for leave to appeal the decision of the High Court. The HPCSA then unsuccessfully petitioned the Supreme Court of Appeal. The HPCSA applied for leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court, and on 05 February 2020, the Constitutional Court dismissed the HPCSA’s application for leave to appeal the ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Dr. Basson’s successful recusal of the two members of the professional conduct committee vitiated the entire professional conduct proceedings with the result that the professional conduct proceedings against Dr. Basson will now have to commence de novo (afresh) before the newly constituted Protecting the public and guiding the professions President: Prof M S Nemutandani, Vice President: Dr. S Sobuwa, Acting Registrar/CEO: Dr. MA Kwinda professional conduct committee and the HPCSA is preparing to commence these proceedings against Dr. Basson afresh.

END.

Reply:

1. We are currently providing healthcare workers with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Thereafter we will access the Pfizer vaccine for healthcare workers and persons eligible for phase 2. The commercial stock of Johnson and Johnson vaccines will become available in mid quarter two. Thereafter the rollout programme will be based on these two vaccines;

2. Johnson&Johnson Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals;

3. A team has been investigating the cold storage capacity in South Africa and has been able to quantify the storage capacity across the country. The Johnson&Johnson vaccine is stored at fridge temperature for which there is adequate storage capacity. The Pfizer vaccine is stored at -70 degrees hence there is need for specialised storage facilities which we have secured. The team has been planning the logistics related to the storage, delivery and administration for each of the vaccines. South Africa has a vaccine programme that delivers close to 20m doses of vaccines annually so there is existing infrastructure, systems and human resources. This programme is on a much larger scale however vaccinations are not new for the department. 

4. The Department did provide an initial list of essential workers  that would make up phase two which included civil servants in particular sectors of the economy. Subsequently we have received representation from a number of sectors motivating for inclusion as essential workers. We are engaging with these matters and will provide a final list in the next couple of weeks.

END.

Reply:

The Department of Health has not been involved in the procurement of a “Cuban Covid-19 medicine” hence we cannot respond to this question. It must be referred to the Department of Defence.

END.

Reply:

(1) In its records the Department of Employment and Labour found no employee who (a) performed work in addition to the responsibilities related to his /her work, outside working hours, in the past five financial years

(b) There are no employees who have been performing such work during the 01 April 2014 up to current.

(i) Zero number of staff members

(ii) Zero number of job or categories of specified staff.

(2) No approval was granted (a) if cases of this nature are received the Department of Employment and Labour utilise Section 30 of the Public Service Act, 1994 and Guide on other Remunerative work in the Public Service (b) if applications of this nature are received they then get considered by the Ethics Office and approval if there is any need for permission to be granted that is done by the Accounting Officer and the Executive Authority respectively, (c) Zero as the Department did not have cases,(d) No transgressors identified. If any transgressors are found disciplinary action get instituted.

 

Reply:

1. (a) Total number of health and safety inspectors in the republic?

Province	# Inspectors (includes vacancies)
TOTAL	674

(b) Number of inspectors per Province?

Provinces	Number of Inspectors (includes vacancies)
EC	66
FS	70
GP	118
KZN	167
LP	62
MP	39
NC	27
NW	47
WC	78
TOTAL	674

This number includes the five hundred new inspectors that have just joined the Department

2. The only assessment that has been done so far relates to the degree to which the inspectors are able to achieve their targets as well as the quality of work that they produce with specific regards to OHS inspectors, the majority of them are new and are still undergoing training, mentoring and coaching.

Inspectors are required to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Standard Operating Procedures when conducting inspections and reporting thereof.

In observing the inspections conducted and the notices served, the provinces are deemed to be effective in their reach and in terms of their footprint. Inspectors have risen to the ocassion over this period of COVID-19.

Table: Total number of OHS inspections for Public and Private sector (April 2020 to January 2021)

Province	Total Inspections	Number Compliant	% Compliant	Number Noncompliant	% Compliant	% Non-Compliance
EC	2228	1585	71	643	71	29
FS	4948	2825	57	2123	57	43
GP	2200	1947	89	253	89	12
KZN	4476	2357	53	2119	53	47
LP	1059	405	38	654	38	62
MP	1904	643	34	1261	34	66
NC	846	356	42	490	42	58
NW	1412	808	57	604	57	43
WC	5180	2690	52	2490	52	48
TOTAL	24253	13616	56	10637	56	44

Reply:

Please refer to Question 408 and its response.

END.

Reply:

1. The post of Chief Director: Governance and Compliance, Rights of Persons with Disabilities, is funded, vacant and in the process of recruitment;

2. The post has been advertised with a closing date of 12 March 2021 and the selection and appointment process is expected to complete by 31 July 2021.

_________________________

Approved by Minister

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Date _____________________

Reply:

a) There were no approved social grant beneficiaries who were not paid at the Upington Post Office in January 2021. All beneficiaries who were entitled to the grant were paid.

b) At the end of December 2020, SASSA lapsed a total of 1 672 temporary disability grants as the period for which the grant was approved had expired; and 68 care dependency grants, where the beneficiary had turned 18 years of age during the course of 2020. These clients in the Upington area were not paid in January 2021, and need to re-apply for the grant, if their disability or medical condition still prevents them from working and thus earning an income with which to support themselves.

SASSA has implemented a specific process for the clients who previously received the care dependency grants, where the grants lapsed at the end of December 2021, in order to limit inconvenience as much as possible. A care dependency grant lapses at the end of the month in which the care dependent child turns 18. However, as a result of measures implemented to reduce the spread of the corona virus in 2020, care dependency grants which should have lapsed were kept in payment until the end of the year.

When a care dependency grant lapses, the young person, who is now an adult, has to apply for a disability grant in his/her own name (the care dependency grant is paid to the care giver of the child). The application for a disability grant requires a new medical assessment, in line with the Provisions of the Social Assistance Act, 2004. However, in order to limit inconvenience, as a care dependent child is supposed to have a permanent, severe disability, the medical assessments for the disability grant application are being done off the file, using the previous medical report. Only where the previous medical assessment is not available, or where the information is inadequate, will an arrangement be made for the young person to be brought to the office for an assessment.

Once the assessment is completed, the care giver of that young person will be contacted to complete the application process as the procurator of the young person.

The above process has been implemented in order to prevent people with severe disabilities form having to come to SASSA offices to complete the application process.

The paper-based assessment process will be utilised as a permanent method of attending to disability grant applications, where the client was previously a care dependent child.

Lastly, I would like to inform the Honourable Member’s attention to the current language that is consistent with the White Paper is persons with Disabilities not “people living with disabilities”.

 

Reply:

The current Covid vaccines assessed by SAHPRA and approved for emergency use do not contain any of these mentioned materials. In general, as part of the quality review of manufacturing, formulation and control of the vaccine, SAHPRA checks for all excipients and any possible impurities from these and from active substances used as well as their interactions and degradation products and establish if they are in acceptable safe limits, if not they are not approved.

END.

Reply:

(a) Data from the District Health Information System (DHIS) indicate that in the calendar year 2020, infant PCR test positivity rate is 0.51% at birth, 0.69% around 10 weeks and 0.23% at 18 months;

(b) Mother-to-child-transmission of HIV remains multi-factorial and thus interventions are developed at each possible point of infection. It could be (1) high viral load due to new infection during prenatal and post-natal period or pregnant women not virally suppressed, (2) pregnant women who are not aware of their HIV status, (3) women who develop drug resistance/ or treatment failure;

(c) The PMTCT guideline was revised in 2019 to address the mother to child transmission of HIV by introducing the following interventions:

• HIV negative pregnant women are retested for HIV at every basic antenatal care visit and at labour and delivery, and those who test HIV positive are initiated on ART immediately;
• Maternal viral load monitoring for pregnant HIV positive women done at ANC, at the time of delivery and another viral load monitoring at 6 months post-delivery to identify mothers who are at higher risk of transmitting HIV to their infants/babies;
• Enhanced infant prophylaxis where HIV exposed infants whose mothers has high viral load or the viral load is unknown receive HIV prophylaxis until their mothers are virally suppressed thus reducing the risk of transmission.

END.

Reply:

According to the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Health, the Department has noted water challenges in Kabokweni and Themba Hospital due to lack of / failure to provide bulk water supply from City of Mbombela municipality. The Department has subsequently installed two boreholes and procured two water tankers to supply the hospital with water in order to address water shortages at the facility. The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and City of Mbombela they are also assisting the Department with their own water tankers.

It must be noted that these tankers will remain in the hospital until Municipality bulk water supply is restored.

END.

Reply:

The Department conducted an electronic survey during April/May 2020, to determine the initial impact of the lockdown on the lives and livelihoods of women. This survey was not able to reach a sufficiently large enough number of respondents across the country to make any conclusive findings. It was further limited to access to some women’s organisations only who responded but they too were unable to reach women in the community level because of level 5 lockdown restrictions. However the survey findings enabled the DWYPD to facilitate that GBVF and the services thereof, be included in the regulations as essential service.

The DWYPD also collaborated with UN Women on the various surveys through CATI (use of cellular mobile technology) approach to reach a few thousands of respondents. The findings indicate that hunger by women and children was a growing problem at the start of the lockdown but eased somewhat with the provisions of the food parcels to indigent households and the social protection relief measures put in place by Government.

_________________________

Approved by Minister

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Date _____________________

Reply:

Covid-19 is having massive implications for the economy, mainly hitting hard the unemployed youth. As a result, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), an agency reporting to the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has put in place the following measures in the 2020/ 2021 financial year up to 31 December 2020 (Q3):

(ii) The Youth Micro Enterprise Relief Fund, which provided relief funding to 1104 youth entrepreneurs;

(iii) The NYDA Grant programme, which provided 930 youth entrepreneurs with start-up and survivalist funding. Of the grant recipients 63% were male and 37% were female and most grants were disbursed in Gauteng at 18%, Mpumalanga at 15%, Eastern Cape at 15% KwaZulu Natal at 12% and Limpopo at 12%. The least were disbursed in North West at 9%, Western Cape at 7%, Free State at 6% and Northern Cape at 6%;

(iv) The NYDA Job Placements programme, placed 1845 young people into jobs, with more females than males placed at 63% females vs 37% males placed. Gauteng had the highest placements at 28% and Northern Cape at 25%, whilst Limpopo was at 9%, KwaZulu Natal at 14%, Free State at 0%, Eastern Cape at 8%, Mpumalanga and North West at 11% and 6% respectively;

(v) 1575 youth have been supported through non-financial business development interventions;

(vi) 1164 young people have been capacitated with skills to enter the job market; and

(vii) 2095 young people have been capacitated with skills to participate in the economy.

It is worthy to note that, the DWYPD developed a Cabinet approved National Youth Policy (NYP) 2020-2030. The NYP 2030 was launched on the 05th of March 2021 and, amongst others, proposes policy priorities to tackle long term structural and systematic youth unemployment. Key amongst these are measures to ensure economic transformation, entrepreneurship support, and provision of second chance opportunities for improved participation and inclusion of vulnerable youth.

_________________________

Approved by Minister

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Date _____________________

Reply:

1. The terms sheet with the Serum Institute of India was signed on the 7th January 2021.

2. The terms sheet for Pfizer was signed on 15 January 2021. The terms sheet for Johnson & Johnson was signed on 05 January 2021.

END.

Reply:

The COVID 19 vaccines were developed over 12 months in order to respond to the global crisis relating to the COVID 19 pandemic. The clinical trials that were done in the development of the vaccines did not identify cancer, seizures, heart disease, allergies and autoimmune disease as adverse events. There is also no data to suggest that vaccines in general cause any of these conditions.  Nevertheless we have implemented a pharmacovigilance programme to monitor any adverse events should they arise and will take the appropriate steps should they arise.

END.

Reply:

1. (a) Yes

(b) Yes, information available from 2017/2018 – 2020/21

Financial Year	Applications Received	Applications Approved (i)	Job categories of approved applications (ii)
2017-18	12	1	Environmental Health
2018-19	7	5	Health Attaché’; Environmental Health, Supply Chain Management, Stakeholder Support and Liaison Demand and Acquisition (Supply Chain)
2019-20	9	5	Internal Audit (X3) Admin Clerk Intern
2020-21	6	3	Stakeholder Support and Liaison (HIV/AIDS) Demand and Acquisition (Supply Chain) Environmental Health.

2. Fourteen (14) applications were approved from 2017/18 – 2020/21.

a) Permission to perform remunerative work outside employment is granted in terms of section 30 of the Public Service Act, 1994, as amended;

b) RWOPS applications by employees at salary levels 2-14 are approved by the Director General. Applications by employees at level 15 are approved by the Executive Authority;

c) A total of 2 applications were found to have a conflict of interest in 2019/20 and 1 employee was found to have conflict of interest in 2020/21.

d) Disciplinary measures were initiated against the transgressors.

END.

Reply:

(a) Switching Schooling Model during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The current schooling model under  the recently amended Directions issued in terms of Regulation 4(3) of the Regulations made under the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) regarding the dates for the re-opening of schools, to provide for the 2021 academic year, and for measures to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19 in the national Department of Basic Education, all Provincial Departments of Education, all education district offices and all schools in the Republic of South Africa, as published under Government Notice No. 343, in Government Gazette No. 43465 of 23 June 2020, as amended, is adequate to ensure sufficient curriculum coverage under the prevailing level of COVID-19 infections.  Therefore, there is no need for the Republic to switch over to home schooling alone.

(b) Alternative Teaching Methods

(i) Educational Broadcasting (TV & Radio):

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) in collaboration with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and various partners have since April 2020 adopted the use of online and broadcast platforms under the theme "Woza Matric Catchup Programme 2020".  Planning is currently underway to expand the online and broadcast learning support intervention to cover all grades (Grade R - 12) under the "Remote Learning Programme 2021".  This includes the following:

(aa) TV Educational Broadcasting:

• OVHD Channel 122 (DBE TV Channel): eMedia Investments in partnership with the DBE are broadcasting educational support material for learners and teachers on the Openview HD (OVHD) platform – channel 122. The channel is currently available for free to homes with OVHD decoders.
• Telematics: The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) in partnership with the University of Stellenbosch are broadcasting via the Telematics platform that uses satellite technology to broadcast lessons in 9 subjects from the University of Stellenbosch. The subjects include Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences, Accounting, Business Studies, History, Geography, English FAL and Afrikaans HL. These lessons are planned by WCED subject specialists and presented by expert teachers.
• Mindset Network: Mindset is a digital satellite television free-to air channel. The Network broadcasts educational support material for learners and teachers on both Openview HD (OVHD) platform – channel 134 and DSTV - channel 319.
• SABC TV in partnership with the DBE broadcasted educational support material for learners and teachers on the SABC TV Channel 2 in 2020. Plans are underway to request the broadcaster to provide similar support in 2021 under the DBE/NECT Remote Learning Programme.

(bb) Radio Educational Broadcasting:

The SABC and private community radio stations in collaboration with Provincial Education Departments broadcasted Covid-19 Curriculum Support Programmes to parents and Grade R – 12 learners in 2020. Plans are underway to request the broadcasters to offer similar services in 2021 under the DBE/NECT Remote Learning Programme. This will include the following:

• Limpopo Province: Munghana Lo Nene FM;  Thobela FM and Phalapala FM Radio Stations.
• Mpumalanga Province: Ikwekwezi FM; Pulpit FM; Ligwalagwala FM, Radio Laeveld; Radio Kragbron; Community Radio Stations; and Rise FM Radio Stations.
• Eastern Cape Province: Umhlobo Wenene FM Radio Station.
• North West community radio stations.

ii) Applications for smartphones

There is already a proliferation of free educational smartphone applications available to users, ranging from content access, communicator, learning management systems and assessment Apps. Many of which are already being used by schools, teachers and learners to support remote learning. 

There is also a multitude of local online educational content portals and learning support platforms, some of which as zero-rated and accessible free of charge to support remote learning. Many of these platforms are augmented by smartphone applications.

The DBE website at https://www.education.gov.za/covid19supportpackage.aspx 

provides links for accessing online content resources for parents, caregivers and learners to support learning on its landing page.

 Some of the main online platforms and portals include:

• DBE and Bhelela partnership online portal at http://dbecontent.bhelela.com,   which provides access to free state-owned content resources such as electronic e-textbooks, teacher guides, study guides, e-workbooks in PDF, ePub and HTML formats as well as other Open Education Resources (OER) such as PhET simulations, Apps, storybooks, encyclopaedia, and Khan Academy videos etc.
• Provincial Education Department e-Learning Portals and Platforms provide learners with free access to educational content resources such as video lessons, Apps, eBooks, interactive revision material, Assessment, ATPs. These included:
  • WCED ePortal at https://wcedeportal.co.za/
  • GDE eContent platform at https://gdecontent.co.za/
  • KZN DoE e-learning solution at http://kznfunda.kzndoe.gov.za/
  • ECDOE Curriculum portal at https://www.eccurriculum.co.za/
• Many other private sector educational portals
  • Siyavula - https://www.siyavula.com/
  • Africa Teen Geeks - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=africa+teen+geeks
  • 2Enable - https://www.2enable.org/
  • Vodacom e-Classroom - http://www.digitalclassroom.co.za/digitalclassroom/
  • Vodacom e-School https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/services/vodacom-e-school
  • Interactive Simulations for Science and Math (PhET Simulations): PhET provides fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations: https://phet.colorado.edu/
  • African Storybooks: Provides Open access to picture storybooks in the languages of Africa: https://www.africanstorybook.org/
  • Khan Academy Math Videos: https://www.khanacademy.org/math
  • Khan Academy You Tube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy
  • Khan Academy: Free Learning App: ttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.khanacademy.android&hl=en_ZA

Reply:

There were 28 758 learners that registered for the examination but did not write all six subjects in the final October/November 2020 examination, which represents 4.7% of the learners that enrolled. This absenteeism rate is extremely low compared to previous years. However, all learners who registered for the October / November 2020 NSC examinations will be allowed to write the May / June 2021 examinations.  These learners will be supported through the Second Chance Matric Programme, so that they are adequately prepared to write the examinations in May / June 2021.

Reply:

In response to the leaked question papers in Mathematics and Physical Science, the Director General appointed a National Investigation Task Team (NITT) and one of the objectives of the NITT was to make recommendations relating to improvement of the examination system so as to avoid a recurrence of these leakages.   

Two recommendations emanating from the investigations of the National Investigation Task Team (NITT), relate to what needs to be done to improve the examination system so that a recurrence of a leakage is avoided. 

Firstly, it is recommended that an audit of origination and printing processes a the Government Printing Works (GPW) be conducted given that these processes are susceptible to security breaches. An audit of the protocols and processes for securing the origination and printing be undertaken and that if this proves necessary a new protocol be established. 

Secondly, in terms of the NITT report, the examination cycle has provided evidence of substantial compliance in most aspects of the process, from setting and moderation to the marking and resulting process, and in the handling of such other irregularities as did occur. The NITT is therefore, of the view that the system is otherwise secure. However, the DBE and the PEDs need to know how the leaks occurred and take such remedial action as may be necessary. The DBE will conduct a full audit of the printing, packing, distribution and storage of question papers across all the provinces and using the findings from previous audits will establish the extent to which the previous audit findings have been addressed and what are the new gaps that must be addressed. 

The DBE will also await the outcome of the criminal investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), which will point the DBE to the actual source of the leakage and how it occurred. This will be fully interrogated and remedial measures will be put in place, ahead of the next examination.

The Department will also undertake to invest in the latest technology relating to the security of question papers. An implementation plan will be put in place as to how these new technologies can be phased in.

Reply:

(a) and (b) In response to the leaked question papers in Mathematics and Physical Science, the Director General appointed a National Investigation Task Team (NITT) and the objectives of the NITT, inter alia, included: an identification of the source of the leakage and to make recommendations relating to improvement of the examination system so as to avoid a recurrence of these leakages. 

The DBE also reported the leakage to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and the investigation is ongoing and one arrest has been made and the suspect appeared in court already and the case has been remanded to a date in March 2021. 

In the case of the NITT investigation, an audit was conducted of the Government Printing Works (GPW), where the Limpopo and North West provinces print their question papers and it has now emerged that one of the question papers that leaked could have come from the Government Printing Works (GPW). The security at the point of origination and the printing at GPW is susceptible to breaches and the investigation is now with the DPCI. Computers from GPW have been confiscated for further forensic investigation by DPCI. 

The conclusion of the criminal investigation will reveal the source of the leakage and the Department will put in place remedial measures to address these leakages. 

It needs to be noted that in both these alleged sources of the leakage, it is the human element that has contributed to the breach. The human factor is often difficult to control and hence the Department is exploring various technologies that will minimise the human element in the process of printing, packing and distribution. 

On a point of correction, it needs to be stated that the previous leakage of a question paper occurred in 2016 and this was limited to one district in the Limpopo province. This implies that there were no leaked question papers in the last three years.  

Reply:

(1)(a) Yes

(b) Yes, approval for Other Remunerative work has to be obtained and the approval is valid for 12 months (i) 120 since 01 April 2015 (ii) Line function and Administration components of the Department.

(2)(a) Yes, the policy of the Department that is followed is prescribed by the Public Service Regulations, 2016 and administred according to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Guide on Managing other Remunerative Work in the Public Service. Disciplinary steps may be considered if approval by the Director-General was not obtained.

(b) The appointed Ethics Officers in the Department receive the applications for processing and forward it to the Director-General for approval/disapproval

(c) None

(d) Not applicable

Reply:

Learner drop-out statistics are not available at this point. Based on the information provided by the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) during the DG's weekly one-on-one virtual meetings with PEDs, provinces are still collating the drop-out statistics. As they work out drop-out-statistics, PEDs are identifying learners who do not physically come to school but have not dropped out because they are learning from home. These are learners who have comorbidities or other illnesses, as well as those who are in the home education programme.

 

Reply:

Yes, the figure includes only learners who have been registered with and whose applications have been received by provincial education departments. 

Reply:

The question has been referred to the Kwa Zulu Natal Department of Education and a response will be submitted as soon as it is received.

Reply:

According to the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, the water supply challenges currently experienced in Kimberley, emanate primarily from deterioration of raw water quality in the Vaal River. Due to upstream raw water contamination, the water had high turbidity levels, thus requiring of the municipality to invest additional effort and resources to strengthen production at the Riverton Water Treatment plant. This was to ensure acceptable quality levels of purified water into the system. This reduced the amount of water pumped to Kimberley by about 70%, and it became difficult to fill up reservoirs at Newton.

During the same period, the municipality experienced a massive pipe leak on the 965 pipeline, close to the R31. The leak was repaired on Tuesday 16 Feb 2021. While repairs were undertaken, pumping from Riverton to Newton plant was negatively impacted, resulting in levels dropping below the supply level.

While full production capacity has not been restored yet, it has improved greatly, with more water now reaching the reservoirs. The water tests have also demonstrated improved turbidity levels. The municipality has introduced scheduled water rationing, until full capacity of the reservoirs has been achieved.